Degree Name

EdD (Doctor of Education)

Program

Educational Leadership

Date of Award

12-2004

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

W. Hal Knight

Committee Members

Terrence A. Tollefson, Patricia Robertson, Nancy Dishner

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine sophomore students' perceptions of academic advising at ETSU as reported in fall 2002 and trends in sophomore students' perceptions of academic advising at ETSU from 1994 to 2002. Four research questions and seven hypotheses were examined.

The ACT Survey of Academic Advising was the instrument used in this study. This survey was administered to ETSU sophomores enrolled in 2000-level English literature classes during the fall semesters of 1994, 1998, and 2002. Data obtained from the survey regarding topics of discussion with advisors, satisfaction with assistance received, and impressions of advisors were analyzed to determine student perceptions and satisfaction. Variables of age, sex, college residence, type of advisor, and transfer status were examined in the 2002 data to determine any significant differences in these student subgroups. Comparative analysis was used to determine differences between ETSU sophomores surveyed in 2002 and sophomores included in a national normative study. Means scores obtained in 1994, 1998, and 2002 were tested to determine trends in students' perceptions since 1994. This study utilized a descriptive research design. All hypotheses were tested using an alpha level of .05.

The results of this research indicated that continued improvements in academic advising services were needed at ETSU. The data in this study showed that ETSU students were satisfied with assistance received from their advisors in some areas. Students' impressions of their advisors were less than favorable. There were few statistical differences between ETSU student subgroups. There were few statistical differences between ETSU and students in the normative study in satisfaction with advisors' assistance. ETSU students had significantly less favorable impressions of their advisors than those in the normative study. Regarding trends in ETSU students' perceptions of academic advising at ETSU, students were significantly more satisfied and had significantly higher impressions of advisors in 1998 and 2002 than in 1994. There were no significant differences in responses of sophomores surveyed in 1998 and those surveyed in 2002 on any items.

Document Type

Dissertation - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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